MuscleTech Clear Muscle Reviews Brian E. June 6, 2014 Pre-Workout Reviews, Reviews, Testosterone Supplements Reviews, Weight Gainer Supplement Reviews Ingredients8.9 Effectiveness8.5 Value8.7ProsWell Researched IngredientsEffective DosageConsExpensive 8.7Overall Score The uninitiated might be surprised at the level of hubris and hyperbole inherent in MuscleTech’s assertion that Clear Muscle is “the most powerful muscle builder ever.” But as any grizzled supplement veteran can tell you, this type of claim isn’t anything unusual for a company like MuscleTech. Although they’ve backed off from this type of aggressive advertising recently, I had to try Clear Muscle for myself to determine whether they were back to their old marketing gimmicks. So whether you’re on the fence, or just curious about the new Clear Muscle, here’s everything you need to know about it. One Compound to Rule Them All The only ingredient you’ll find in Clear Muscle is a compound called BetaTOR. It’s a pure, free acid form of the leucine metabolite HMB (beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate). And while MuscleTech does make some pretty bold claims─ the amount of BetaTOR in Clear Muscle is equivalent to 200 grams of whey protein, there are a number of studies that support HMB as an effective ergogenic supplement. The Research One study published in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism maintains, “HMB has been well documented as an oral ergogenic supplement commonly used by athletes. Several studies have shown that combining exercise training with HMB supplementation leads to increased muscle mass and strength, and there is some anecdotal evidence of aerobic improvement.”[1] Another study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology concluded that supplementing with HMB was “associated with greater increases in muscle mass, muscle strength and anaerobic properties…”[2] The amount of HMB used in the second study was 3 grams a day, so Clear Muscle is actually pretty well dosed at 1 g per serving. In fact, the directions for Clear Muscle recommend taking the studied 3 g dosage daily, and each container holds a 30 day supply when following the suggested dosage schedule. To get a full 3 g of HMB a day it’s recommend that you take 1 serving (2 capsules), in the morning, mid-afternoon, and evening. To make it easier on myself I just took a serving with each of my main meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My Experience With Clear Muscle First let me say that I didn’t alter my diet or exercise at all, and have taken Clear Muscle at the recommended 3 g dose per day for the last 3 weeks. And while I didn’t explode and gain the vaunted 16 lbs. of muscle that the subjects in the research study did, I am up 2 lbs. of muscle and down about 1% body fat. I should also point out that subjects in the research study took the HMB compound consistently for 12 weeks, and I’ve only taken it for a little over 3 weeks. However, those are certainly results I’m happy with. I dropped from 12% to 11% body fat and gained 2 lbs. of muscle. As someone’s who’s listed consistently for the last 10 years, gains are a lot harder to come by these days. I certainly miss those newbie gains! Clear Muscle Conclusion Clear Muscle is well researched and effective, but it’s important to manage your expectations. Everyone responds differently to training and supplementation, and unless you’re just starting to lift or have freaky genetics, chances are you won’t gain 16 lbs. of muscle. That being said, Clear Muscle is great way to stimulate some additional muscle growth if you’ve hit a plateau or your gains have stagnated. The only knock on this product is the price, which I’ve seen as high as $80 or $90. A number of websites do have it on sale right now for about $50 though, so if you can find it as this lower price I would definitely recommend grabbing it while you can. References: [1] Portal S, Eliakim A, Nemet D, Halevy O, Zadik Z. Effect of HMB supplementation on body composition, fitness, hormonal profile and muscle damage indices J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jul;23(7):641-50 [2] Portal S, Zadik Z, Rabinowitz J, Pilz-Burstein R, et. al., The effect of HMB supplementation on body composition, fitness, hormonal and inflammatory mediators in elite adolescent volleyball players: a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011 Sep;111(9):2261-9. doi: 10.1007/s00421-011-1855-x. Epub 2011 Feb 16. Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website To leave a comment please enable JavaScript in your browser settings!